Ruffling mechanism for sewing machines



Feb, 2, 1932. K. MAIER 1,843,168

RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet l K0121. lfnllae.

Feb. 2, 1932. K. MAIER 1,843,168

RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 W W //e M1124 Mime.

J XW Feb. 2, 1932. K. MAIEIR RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed March 18, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Feb. 2, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE KARL MAIER, F STUTTGART, GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO UNION SPEQIAL MASCHINEN- FABRIK, G. M. B. 31., OF STUTTGART, GERMANY RUFFLING MECHANISM FOR SEWING M ACHINES Application filed March 18, 1929, Serial No. 347,920, and in qermany April 2, 1928.

The invention relates to new and useful improvements in rufiling mechanisms for sewing machines.

In the patent granted James R. Mofl'att, January 2, 1917, No. 1,210,671, there is shown a rufliing mechanism which can be moved laterally of the line of feed to an inoperative position and when thus positioned the ruflling blade is disconnected from the actuating mechanism therefor.- The operator through a treadle controlled mechanism may move the rufliing mechanism laterally so as to bring the ruflling blade into the line of feed and at the same time connectsaid rufiling blade to the actuating mechanism therefor. A latch is provided for holding the rufliing mechanism in its actuating position, butthis latch is controlled by a treadle which is lifted by a spring, and when the treadle is released the latch is released and the rufiling mechanism moved to inoperative position.

The present invention has to do with a ruffling mechanism of the above type, and an object of the invention is to provide a manually controlled means for holding the ruflling mechanism in normal actuating osition so that the treadle by which it is shifted may be released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rufliing mechanism of the above character which is automatically thrown to inoperative position when the manually controlled latching means is entirely released.

A further object of the invention is to provide a rufiiing mechanism of the above character wherein the manually controlled latching means may be operated to throw the rufiiing blade to an ineffective actuating position without moving the rufliing blade laterally to inoperative position.

These and other objects will in part be obvious and will in part be hereinafter more fully disclosed.

In the drawings which show by way of Fig. 1 is a view partly in section and partly in plan showing the ruflhng mechan sm and the position of the same on the sewing maillustration one embodiment of the inven- Fig. 2 is a front view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a detail showing partly in section and partly on front elevation the actuating mechanism for the rufiling blade.

Fig. 4 is a view showing the parts as viewed from the end of the carriage.

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the work support, the milling blade and the stripper blade.

F ig. 6 is a view showing diagrammatically a fabric ruflied and stitched on the machine.

Fig. 7 is a vertical sectional View at one side of the manually controlled latching device, showing the ruflling mechanism in inoperative position.

Fig. 8 is a similarview but showing the rutlling mechanism in operative position.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8, but showing the ruflling blade in ineffective actuated position.

The invention is directed to a latch controlled mechanism for a ruflling mechanism such as .shown in the Mofiatt patent referred to above. In this Mofi'att patent the rufiling blade is shown as mounted on a carriage which is moved endwise so as to position the rufiling blade either in the line of feed or at one side of the line of feed. The rufiling blade is carried by an arm mounted on the carriage which is oscillated b a device which becomes connected to the ru 'ng blade for actuating the same when said blade is moved laterally into the line of feed. The ruflling blade is disconnected from the actuating device when moved laterally to one side of the line of feed. The carriage carrying the rufiling blade is shifted by means of a treadle and the'treadle is so connected tothe carriage that when depressed the carriage will be moved to position theruftling blade in the line of feed, connecting the same to its actuating mechanism so that it is automatically'thrown into action when the treadle is depressed. When the treadle is released a spring operates to move the carriage so as to place the ruffling blade 'at one side of the line of feed and automatically disconnect it from its actuating means.

The present invention has particularly to do with a latch controlling device which consists of a lever pivoted to the bracket supporting the carriage on which the rufiling mechanism is mounted. This lever is spring pressed toward the carriage and carries a lug which when the ruflling mechanism is in inoperative position bears against the carriage. When this carriage is moved so as to position the ruflling mechanism in the line of feed, then the lug is moved past the end of the carriage and into such a position that when the treadle is released the spring cannot return the carriage, and thus render the milling mechanism inoperative. The opera-' tor who depressed the treadle to place the sociated with this latch controlling device.

The latch controlling device has an. extension which engages the arm when the ruflling blade is positioned in the line of feed and thus holds the ruflling blade in operative position, although the treadle utilized for throwing the rufiling blade into operative position, is released. When this latch controlling device is moved for a slight distance the arm is released and the blade is lifted from the material although it continues to actuate,

that is, move back and forth. Through the latch controlling device the operator may, therefore, cause the ruflling blade to become ineffective although it is operated. This partial release of the latch rendering the rufiling blade ineffective is accomplished without withdrawing the rufiling blade from a position containing the line of feed. By depressing the treadle the operator through the control parts thereby can throw the ruffling blade again into engagement with the fabric for operation thereon and the latch will move forward through the action of the spring 38 holding the blade in operative position. Thus it is that groups of ruflles may be made without moving the rufiiing blade laterally to an inoperative position. It coni tlnues its movements but is rendered ineffective by raising it from engagement with the material.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to a sewing machine including a'supporting bed 1 provided with the usual standard. Mounted on the bed of the machine isa bracket 2 carrying bearin lugs 3 in which a sleeve 4 is mounted for en wise movement. Located in this sleeve is a shaft 4a which is theactuating shaft for the rufliing blade; A carriage 5 is mounted on the sleeve, and this carriage has a forked portion straddling the upper end 6 of the bracket 2. This forms a support for the carriage which permits the same to be moved endwise, but prevents the same from oscillating. The needle of the machine is indicated at 7 and the feed of the machine is in the direction of the arrow (1 indicated. in Fig. 1. Mounted for oscillation on the carriage 5 is a shaft 8. At one end of this shaft is mounted a support carrying a pivoted arm 20, which in turn supports a ruflling blade 12. On the opposite end of the shaft 8 is an arm 9. A spring 10 bears against the under face of this arm 9 and an abutment on the carriage and normally turns the shaft 8 to a limited extent in a clockwise direction.

Mounted on the shaft 8 on the other end of the arm 9 is a roller 11. This roller serves the double purpose of moving the carriage laterall the rufliing blade 12 for action and also for of the line of feed for positioning oscillating the shaft 8 so as to hold the rufiiing blade out of "operative engagement with the fabric during its lateral movement. The structure referred to is shown and described more in detail in' the Moifatt patent, and further reference thereto is not thought necessary. y

The rufiling blade 12 is moved into operative position by means of a treadle controlled mechanism, which includes a shaft 13 carrying an arm 14 to which the treadle may be connected. The shaft also carries an arm 15 which engages the lower end 16 of a control lever pivoted at 17. The upper portion of the lever 18 carries a cam portion 19 which is adapted to make contact with the roller 11. A sprin 18a normally moves the lever 18 in a 0100 wise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, and when the treadle is depressed this lever 18 will be moved to the left or in a counterclockwise direction about the pivotal center 17. When the treadle is depressed and the lever 18 moved to the left at its upper end the cam 19 engaging the roller 11 moves the carriage endwise and positions the milling blade in contact with the material. Simultaneous with this endwise movement of the carriage the actuating mechanism for the rufiiing This actuating mechanism includes an eccentric 23 on the main shaft (see Fig. 1). (10- operating with the eccentric is an eccentric strap 24which is connected to an arm 25 carried by a rock shaft 26. This rock shaft 26 carries an arm 27 connected by a link -28 to a bracket 29 mounted on a rod 30. This rod 30 is mounted in suitable bearings so that during the operation of the machine the rod will have a continuous up and down vertical movement.- At the upper end of the rod 30 there is a funnel shaped head 31. On the end of the shaft 40 is an arm 33. This arm 33 carries a lug 32 (see Figs. 3 and 4) blade is automatically connected thereto.

When the carriage is moved in an endwise direction so as to position the rufiling blade in the line of feed this lug 32 is moved into the funnel shaped head so as to be engaged by the wall thereof and thus it is that the reeiprocations of the rod 30 will cause the shaft 4a to oscillate and this in turn will impart back and forth movements to the rufiling blade. When the carriage is moved so as to position the rufliing blade at one side of the line of feed, then the lug is withdrawnfrom the funnel shaped head and disconnected therefrom. Associated with the rullling blade is a stripper 21 carried by a suitable bracket arm mounted on the carriage. \Vhen the treadle is depressed the lever 18 is swung to the left, as noted, moving the carriage so as to position the ruflling blade in the line of feed for action and also so as to position the milling blade on the material.

When the arm 18 is moved in the opposite direction thru a suitable connection with the carriage it will move said carriage so as to position the rufiling blade at one side of the line of feed. These parts are also shown and described in the Moifatt patent and it is not thought necessary to describe the same more in detail.

The invention .is directed particularly to the control device which is manually operated and which performs the double function of holding the ruffiing blade in its normal operative position so that the treadle may be released and of releasing the milling blade partially so that it may be lifted from the material and thus rendered ineffective without permitting its movement laterally to inoperative p0 ition. This control device includes a lever 6 pivotally supported at 37 on the bracket 2. A spring 38 disposed between the lower end of the lever and the bracket 2 normally turns the lever in a clockwise direction as viewed in Figs. 7 to 9. The lever 36 car ries a lug 39. This lever is so positioned that when the carriage is in retracted position and the ruflling blade at one side of the line of feed, the lug 39 bears against the carriage asshown in Fig. 7 When, however, the carriage is moved so as to position the rufiling blaC in the line of feed then this lug 39 will pass 2 cross the end of the carriage and will re strain t e carriage from any retracting'movement due to the action of the spring 18a when the treadle is released. The lever 36 carries an extension 40. When the lever 36 moves into position to lock the carriage'with the ruflling blade in operative position, the extension 40 engages the arm 9 and will hold said arm depressed, although the treadle is released and the lever 18 returns to its normal position. It will be noted that the latching lever is only released sothat it can move into engagement with the arm 9 when the carriage is moved to the extreme limit and the milling blade is over the line of feed. As a result,

the rufiling blade will be held raised by the spring While the carriage is moving laterally and will only be depressed by the treadle when the rufiling blade is over the line of feed. This affords a means for holding the ruflling blade above the fabric when moved laterally across the edge of the fabric so as to position it in the line of feed. After it is thus positioned, it will be moved into engagement with the fabric and held in operative engagement 'with the fabric by the extension 40. The

lug 39 is of considerable length and therefore the lower end of the lever 36 may be moved inwardly to quite an extent without retracting the lug 39 from the path of movement of the carriage 5. In Fig. 9 of the drawings the latch is shown as depressed at its lower end a suflicient distance so that the extension 40 re leases the arm 9, while the lug 39 still engages the carriage 5. When this arm 9 is released the spring lifts the ruffling blade from the material and it will continue to reciprocate in this ineffective position. A group of ruflles may be made, then the lever 36 operated to release the arm 9 and the ruffiing blade will cease ruflling although it remains over the line of feed. By depressing the treadle, the lever 18 may be utilized to swing the arm 9 downward, compressing the spring and moving the rufiling blade into contact with the material so as to commence another group of rufiles. When this lever 36 is further depressed, the rufiling blade is not only raised but the lug 39 will be released from the carriage 5 and it will move the ruflling blade to inoperative position.

As shown in Fig. 6 the fabric is indicated at 34 and groups of rufiles are indicated at 35.

The operator may at any time, by depressing the treadle, move the ruflling blade into operative position and the lug 39 will move off from the end of the carriage, thus moving into position to restrain the carriage from endw-ise movement and at the same time depressing the arm 9 and positioning the blade in contact with the material. All of this control of the ruffling blade may be accomplished Without stopping the stitching mechanism.

It is obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a sewing machine a rufiling mechanism including a rufiiing blade, means for actuating said rufliing blade, manually controlled means for shifting the ruflling blade into and out of a vertical plane containing the line of feed, yielding means for normally holding said rufiling blade out of engagement with the material, and means operating automatically to move the rufliing blade into engagement with the material for operation thereon when said blade has been shifted intoa vertical plane containing the line of iced.

2. In a sewing machine a rufllingffineehw nism including a rufliing blade, means for actuating said ruflling blade, treadle control means for moving the ruflling mechanism from inoperative to operative position, a spring for moving the rufliing mechanism .into inoperative position, a manually controlled latch for holding the rutlling mechanism in operative position when the treadle control means is released, a spring for normally holding the rufliing blade raised from the material when released from said latch.

' nism including a ruflling blade, treadle controlled means for moving the rufliing mecha-- 3. In a sewing machine a rufliing mecha- .nism including a ruflling blade, a spring means for normally holding said blade raised from the material, treadle controlled means for moving the rufliing mechanism from inoperative to operative position, and a manually controlled latch for locking .the ruflling mechanism in operative position and .for

holding the rufiling blade in engagement with the material. 4 5. In a sewing machine a rufiling mechanism including a rufliing blade, a spring means for normally holding said blade raised from the material, treadle controlled means for moving the rufliing mechanism from inoperative to operative position, and a manually controlled latch for locking the rufiling mechanism in o erative position and for;

holding the ru ing blade in engagement with the material, said latch being capable of movement for rendering the ruflling blade ineffective without releasing the rufiling mechanism. A

6. In a sewing machine a rufiling mechanism including a ruliling blade, a spring means for normally holding said blade raised from the material, treadle controlled means for moving the rufiling mechanism from inoperative to operative position, a manually controlled latch having a "locking lug for holding the rufiling mechanism in operative position and an extension for holding the ruflling blade in contact with the material when said latch moves 1 to lock the ruflling mechanism. I v

means for normally holding said blade raised from the material, treadle controlled means for moving the ruflling mechanism from inoperative to operative position, a manually controlled latch having a locking lug for v holding the rufiiing mechanism in operative position and an extension for holding the ruffling blade in contact with the material when said "latch moves to lock the rufiling mechanism, said lug being of suflicient length so that the latch may be moved to release and render the rufi'ling blade ineffective without releasing the rufliing mechanism.

8. In a sewing machine a ruflling mechanism including a carriage, a rufliing blade mounted on said carriage, a spring means for normally holding the rufiling blade raised from'the material, treadle controlled means for moving the carriage in a direction for positioning the rufiiing blade for operation in the line of feed, a spring for moving the carriage in the opposite direction, a latch lever, a lug carried. by said latch lever, a spring for moving said lug towardsaid carriage, said lever being disposed so that the lug bears on the face of the carriage until said ruflling blade is moved to operative position when in the line of feed, a spring for moving the carriage in the opposite direction, a latch lever, a lug carried by said latch lever, a spring for moving said lug toward said carriage, said lever being disposed so that the lug bears on the face of the carriage until said ruffiing blade is moved to operative position when said lug moves off from the carriage and restrains the carriage from endwise movement under the action of the spring so that the treadle may be released, said latch lever having an extension adapted to hold the ruflling blade in engagement with the material when said lug passes off from the face of the carriage.

10. In a sewing machine a ruflling mechanism including a carriage, a rufliing blade mounted on said carriage, a spring means for normally holding the rultling blade raised from the material, treadle controlled means 'for moving the carriage in a direction for positioning the rufiiing blade for operation in the line of feed, a spring for moving the carriage in the opposite direction, a latch lever, a lug carried by said latch lever, a spring for moving said lug toward said carriage, said lever being disposed so that the lug bears on the face of the carriage until said rufiling blade is moved to operative position when said lug moves ofi' from the carriage and restrains the carriage from endwise movement under the action of the spring so that the treadle may be released, said latch lever having an extension adapted to hold the milling blade in engagement with the material when said lug passes off from the face of the carriage, sald lug being of sufficient length so that the latch lever may be moved to release the ruffling blade and render it ineffective without releasing the carriage.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature.

KARL MAIER. 

